Called in 2009, Yusuf Solley is instructed in all aspects of criminal law and regulatory proceedings.
He defends across the board, including murder, complex frauds, multi-handed drug conspiracies, and firearms. He is also experienced in regulatory tribunals and disciplinary hearings and is able to give strategic advice on the litigation process.
He acts as both a leader and a junior alone in cases of grave seriousness and the utmost complexity, having previously been led by a number of silks across the breadth of offences.
He has a particular expertise in defending people with neuro-divergences such as ASD, and ADHD.
He sits as a barrister member, in the Bar Disciplinary Tribunals (BTAS) and in November 2024 appointed as a Commissioner for the Westminster Commission on Joint Enterprise.
R v M (2023) M stole £1million in cash from his employer G4S. He drove the cash in transit vans and on one occasion emptied it for himself. This trial was about the laundering of that money by his sister, and others. News story here
R v ET (2023 This was the brutal murder of a man who lived in a tented community in the woods. The defendant accepted that he had used a bat to batter the man’s skull in, but that he did it because he believed the deceased man had raped his wife. We ran the difficult defence of loss of control, and was acquitted of murder. News story here
R v MA (2023) This case was the murder and conspiracy to murder Kyron Lee in Reading. The gang met up and agreed to target the deceased. He was spotted and in a ride out, 5 youths armed with knives knocked the deceased from his moped and stabbed him multiple times, killing him. The defendant did not participate in the attack but is said to have organised it and took a leading role. News story here
R v Sossongo [2022] Old Bailey (Led Junior, Murder) In 2017 Sossongo was convicted of murder. My client was acquitted in the same murder trial. But Sossongo should never have been convicted. I took up his appeals. Failed at first attempt int the court of appeal. Got a psychological report diagnosing autism. Appealed against sentence and made a CCRC referral. Successful on sentence (now lead authority on sentencing with mental health issues). CCRC successfully referred the case back to the court of appeal. Successfully argued in that autism would have affected the jury’s verdict. Conviction quashed. Retrial ordered. Acquitted at retrial. Appeal case now authority on post-conviction diagnoses of autism. News story here
R v Choudhury [2022] St Albans (Junior alone, GBH conspiracy)
R v Philippe Sossongo (Court of Appeal) [2021] EWCA Crim 1777 (CCRC referral, appeal against joint enterprise murder conviction: Authority on post-conviction diagnoses of Autism and ADHD)
R v RR [2021] (Multihanded murder, Central Criminal Court)
R v Sefa, [2021] (Murder, Central Criminal Court)
R v CG, [2021] (Multihanded murder, Norwich Crown Court)
R v Mapeza [2020] (Multihanded murder, Central Criminal Court)
R v Noel [2020] (Murder, Isleworth Crown Court)
R v PS (Court of Appeal) [2019] EWCA Crim 2286 (Appeal against murder sentence, authority on sentencing young people with ASD/ADHD)
R v Enyiagu [2019] (£25million Fraud, Blackfriars Crown Court)
R v AA [2019] (Multihanded murder, Central Criminal Court)
R v FF [2019] (Section 18, Wood Green Crown Court)
R v Islam [2018] (Multihanded murder, Ipswich Crown Court)
R v Martin [2017] (Multihanded murder, Central Criminal Court)
R v L (Snaresbrook), 12 week firearm conspiracy
Attorney General’s Ref, [2016] EWCA Crim 2022
Skenderi v Italy [2016] EWHC 3051 (Admin)
R v O v [2016] EWCA Crim 395
Opri v Poland, [2015] EWHC 2722 (Admin)
Pulik v Poland [2015] All ER (D) 325 (Feb); [2015] EWHC 974 (Admin)
Sharra v Italy, Successful defence against extradition to Italy
R v M (2016) Newcastle Crown Court, multi handed drugs conspiracy
R v SA (2016) Isleworth Crown Court, serial rape
R v FS (2016) Inner London Crown Court, rape
R v O (2016) Isleworth Crown Court, firearms
R v C (2016) Central Criminal Court Conspiracy to defraud
In order to provide legal advice and representation, I need to collect and hold personal information. This may be your personal data or information relating to other parties involved in the matter. I will take all possible steps to protect personal information. I will ensure that I do not do anything that may infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This Privacy Notice describes the information I collect about you, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
Data controller
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (‘ICO’) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is Furnival Chambers 316 Took’s Court, London, EC4A 1LB and my ICO registration number is ZA272531
If you need to contact me about your data or this privacy notice, you can reach me at clerks@furnivallaw.co.uk. My clerks will forward on your email to me.
Data collection
All of the information that I hold about you is provided to or gathered by me in the course of your case and/or proceedings. Your solicitor and I will tell you why we need the information and how we will use it. On occasion I may also obtain information that is available publicly.
What data do I process about you?
I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the GDPR. This may include:
• Name;
• Date of birth;
• Email address;
• Phone number;
• Address;
• Payment or bank details;
• Next of kin details;
• Details pertaining to education and employment;
• Information on your background & current circumstances; and
• Financial information.
Where relevant, I may also need to process special category personal data that reveals your:
• Racial or ethnic origin;
• Political opinions;
• Religious and philosophical beliefs;
• Trade union membership;
• Genetic data;
• Biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person;
• Data concerning health; and
• Sex life and sexual orientation.
Given the nature of my practice, I also process personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.
My lawful basis for processing your information
The General Data Protection Regulation (’the GDPR’), which is incorporated into English law by the Data Protection Act 2018, requires all organisations that process personal data to have a lawful basis for doing so. The lawful bases identified in the GDPR that I seek to rely upon are as follows:
• Consent of the data subject – where this required, I will ensure that I have your specific consent for processing your data.
• Performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract.
• Compliance with a legal obligation – to comply with various regulatory and professional obligations, e.g. filing tax returns with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (’HMRC’).
• The legitimate interests of my business or a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests, rights or freedoms of the data subject.
Examples of legitimate interests include:
• Where the data subject is a client or in the service of the controller;
• Provision of legal services and advice;
• Processing is necessary to ensure network and information security, including preventing unauthorised access;
• For purposes of practice management, accounting and debt recovery;
• For completion of professional regulatory requirements;
• Processing for direct marketing purposes, or to prevent fraud; and
• Reporting threats to public security.
Special category processing
I process special category data when:
1. I have your explicit consent to do so; or
2. It is necessary for the exercise or defence of legal claims or judicial acts.
Criminal data processing
I process data relating to criminal offences where it is necessary for:
• The purpose of, or in connection with, any legal proceedings;
• The purpose of obtaining legal advice; or
• The purposes of establishing, exercising or defending legal rights.
I use your information to:
• Provide legal advice and representation;
• Assist in training pupils and mini pupils (trainee barristers);
• Investigate and address your concerns;
• Communicate with you about news, updates and events;
• Communicate with my clerks and other members of staff in Chambers in connection with the case;
• Investigate or address legal proceedings relating to your use of my services, or as otherwise allowed by applicable law;
• Make statutory returns as required by HMRC;
• Assist in any tendering or panel membership applications;
• Assist in other reasonable applications for the purpose of professional development or career progression;
• Communicate legal updates and judgments to other legal professionals;
I may share your personal data with:
• Instructing solicitors or other lawyers involved in your case;
• A pupil or mini pupil, under my training;
• Opposing counsel, for the purposes of resolving the case;
• My chambers management and staff who provide administrative services;
• My regulator or legal advisors in the event of a dispute or other legal matter;
• Law enforcement officials, government authorities, or other third parties to meet any legal obligations;
• Legal directories, for the purpose of professional development;
• Any relevant panel or tendering committee, for the purpose of professional development;
• Accountants and banking officials;
• Regulators or arbitrators, where complaints or disputes arise;
• Any other party where I ask you for consent, and you consent, to the sharing.
Transfers to third countries and international organisations
I do not routinely transfer any personal data to third countries or international organisations. However, depending on the nature of the case and my instructions, such transfers may be necessary (i.e. in connection with crimes committed overseas). In the event that I transfer data outside the European Economic Area, I will keep records of the transfers. This may also occur if I am travelling overseas. In such a case, I will keep records of my use of your data in third countries and take reasonable measures to protect its security so that the data is fully protected and safeguarded as required by the General Data Protection Regulation.
I retain your personal data while you remain a client unless you ask me to delete it. My Retention and Disposal Policy, a copy of which is available on request, details how long I hold data for and how I dispose of it when it no longer needs to be held. I will delete or anonymise your information at your request unless:
• There is an unresolved issue, such as a claim or dispute;
• I am legally required to; or
• There are overriding legitimate business interests to do so.
Your rights
The GDPR gives you specific rights in terms of your personal data. For example, you have to be informed about the information I hold and what I use it for; you can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you; you can ask me to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, and you can ask me to stop sending you direct mail, or emails, or in some circumstances ask me to stop processing your details. Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data, you can seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred.
You can find out more information from the ICO’s website here
This is the organisation to which you can complain if you are unhappy with how I have dealt with your query.
Accessing and correcting your information
You may request access to, correction of, or a copy of your information by contacting me at clerks@furnivallaw.co.uk.
Marketing Opt-Outs
You may opt out of receiving emails and other messages from my practice by following the instructions in those messages. In such a case, please email my clerks who will keep a record of your request and will forward it onto me.
I will occasionally update my privacy notice. When I make changes, I will publish the updated notice on Chambers’ website profile.